The Duval County Medical Society Foundation and Dade County Medical Association are proud to announce they’ve jointly been awarded a $25,000 Community Impact Grant from New York Life. The grant will support the Wear a Mask. Save Lives. Campaign and will provide critical personal protective equipment to physicians in Duval and Dade Counties.

Over the next month, approximately 7,500 KN95 masks will be distributed to community physicians during a time when mask wearing is vital. While distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine is underway, it is critically important that everyone continue to wear masks. Physicians and the healthcare community play an important role in setting an example and educating the public on why wearing a mask is critical to slowing the spread of COVID-19.

“It remains critical that we wear masks at this state of the vaccination rollout because though the vaccine can prevent illness for COVID-19, it remains possible that folks can have asymptomatic infections and transmit the virus to others who aren’t yet vaccinated,” said Sunil Joshi, M.D., Duval County Medical Society Foundation President. “We are grateful that our DCMS Foundation partnership with New York Life will have a long-lasting impact on protecting the physicians and residents of the First Coast."

The Community Impact Grant program awards grants of up to $25,000 to local nonprofit organizations, which are championed by New York Life agents and employees.

“I’m proud to work for a company that encourages its agents and employees to devote their time, energy and talents to support the needs and priorities of their local community,” said Josephine Barbot, Associate Partner with New York Life’s South Florida General Office. “We are pleased that our partnership will have a long-lasting impact on the DCMS Foundation and the population it serves."

Since the program’s inception in 2008, more than 600 Community Impact Grants totaling nearly $8 million have been awarded to nonprofits across the country.

Are you a physician member in need of KN95s? Click here to submit your request.

Members seeking more information on the Wear a Mask. Save Lives. Campaign should email Fraser Cobbe, DCMS Executive Director.

Media interested in interviews regarding the campaign and grant can email Kristy Williford, DCMS Communications Manager.

The DCMS Foundation is a true community foundation that serves all of Northeast Florida. We hope you will consider the Foundation’s work worthy of your support this year. Our nine-member Foundation Board of Directors, comprised of five physicians and four community leaders, will make you proud:

1. We do not stand by idly while medical families live with anxiety or despair. Our nationally-recognized LifeBridge Wellness Program has provided 170+ confidential coaching sessions to colleagues across three counties. We seek to ease the burdens of burn-out and depression, and to stem the devastation of suicide.

2. The DCMS Foundation is leading this year’s flu vaccine campaign on the First Coast with the #FluVaxJax initiative. We have partnered with local media, health insurance companies, hospitals and local pharmacies; attended a press conference with Mayor Curry; filmed public service announcements and have provided hundreds of free flu shots to those without insurance. Typically, the First Coast has a flu vaccination rate of about 37%. Our goal is to increase this to 48% in order to save lives and to save hospital beds while flu season and the fall wave of COVID-19 coincide. Please go to fluvaxjax.com for more information.

3. The annual Future of Healthcare Conference has gathered hundreds of community leaders to forge impactful population health solutions in Northeast Florida. We have introduced powerful ideas for public policy that have since been implemented to address local issues such as gun violence (Cure Violence program), food deserts (Northwest Quadrant economic development fund) and opioid deaths (state prescribing laws). Although our 2020 Conference had to be canceled due to COVID-19, please mark your calendars for October 18 & 19 for the 2021 Future of Healthcare Conference.

The DCMS Foundation is raising the bar for leadership and service. Your donation is a deductible, charitable contribution. Please support us today with a donation of $100, $500, or $1000. Thank you.

Fifty-four people served by the Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities have died of COVID-19, according to a report Tuesday.

In all, 1,196 Agency for Persons with Disabilities beneficiaries have tested positive for the virus, with 803 having recovered, said Melanie Etters, an agency spokeswoman.

The agency report also shows that 353 workers at group homes or private institutions that care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities have tested positive for the virus, and six of those workers have died.

Additionally, 49 employees of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities have tested positive for the virus, including eight who work at the Sunland Center state institution in Marianna and 16 who work at the Tacachale state institution in Gainesville. Another 17 employees who have tested positive work at what is known as DDDP, a forensic program administered by the agency. Another 68 state employees --- 65 of whom work at those three institutions --- are isolated and not included in the COVID-19 positive count.

The legislation stems from the Duval County Medical Society Foundation’s 2017 Future of Healthcare Conference. This annual conference brings together healthcare professionals, local politicians, university leaders, and non-profit organizations to discuss Northeast Florida’s most concerning health issues and work toward unified solutions.

Following the 2017 event, Conference attendees formed a coalition to develop public policy that would tackle the food deserts issue.

To qualify as a food desert, according to United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) standards, at least 500 people in and/or at least 33 percent of the population of an urban census tract must reside more than one mile from a supermarket or large grocery store.

Recent studies on the effects of food deserts found that communities which lack access to fresh, healthy foods will likely result in increased rates of premature death, typically the result of chronic health conditions. Nearly 180,000 people in Jacksonville are food insecure.

The new incentive program will utilize $3 million in funds that was appropriated from the Northwest Jacksonville Economic Development Fund.

The DCMS Foundation continues to connect with our community with inspiring personal stories of weight loss success. This week, WJXT Channel 4, highlighted Danyell Mack – a determined and committed individual who works out at Baileys Health and Fitness. Danyell has lost 63 pounds to date and attributes her success with the support of her family and friends along with guidance by her personal trainer. You can watch the story by clicking here.

904 Mission One Million remains focused on its overall ‘mission’ for the 904 area to lose one million pounds over the next several years. The DCMS Foundation greatly appreciates continued support, awareness and involvement of DCMS members within our community for better overall health. Through this initiative, the Foundation continues to provide options for healthy habits leading to generational change. Encourage your colleagues and patients to join the ‘mission’ by registering today at www.904missiononemillion.com.

Download our e-flyer and/or our e-bubble from the 904 Mission One Million website to showcase in your office. Have your patient(s) provide their personal ‘mission’ in the bubble and share! Connect us with your internal employee wellness coordinator to meet with us and schedule a friendly weight loss challenge within your own workplace/department/division. Every pound lost counts! For more information, please contact Tammy Chaney, Director of Foundation Operations, at tammy@dcmsonline.org or call 904-355-6561.

You can also support the DCMS Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization,  through a tax-deductible donation. Your support helps fund 904 Mission One Million, the DCMS Physician Wellness Program, and the Future of Healthcare Conference, among many other initiatives.

In addition, we work with other key community partners such as WJXT Channel 4, to provide a bi-monthly ‘Weigh-in-Wednesday’ segment of local residents and their weight loss success stories, which serve to connect and inspire. On September 20, Channel 4 aired an interview with local Mom, Stacy Jordan, whose ‘mission’ is to lose weight for herself and her family. We are happy to share her story and are cheering her on to success! You can watch the segment by clicking here.

As a DCMS member, please encourage your colleagues and patients to join the city-wide mission for better health and log on today to help support the ‘mission’ of losing one million pounds! We greatly appreciate the efforts of our physician members and their continued support of our Foundation and iis efforts within our amazing community!

Purchase tickets to our annual DCMS Jaguars Tailgate Party by Sept. 15 to be entered into the raffle! You'll receive one entry for each ticket purchased!

The Duval County Medical Society Annual Jaguars Tailgate Party is a great way to treat your office staff or family to a family-friendly outing! Tickets are just $40 and include the December 3 Jaguars/Colts game ticket and our pre-game tailgate with food, drink, music and games included!

Beginning at 10:00 am, in Lot X at Everbank Stadium, we'll have food, beverages and entertainment for you to enjoy! Tickets are $40, and include the pre-game festivities and your seat in the stadium. ALL proceeds go to the DCMS Foundation! Game time is 1:00 pm. Parking fee not included.

Purchase your tickets at dcmsonline.org/event/jaguars.

Already have season tickets? Tailgate-only tickets are just $15. Contact Sallie at sallie@dcmsonline.org to get registered!

All proceeds support the DCMS Foundation!

Another DCMS Foundation community wide endeavor underway is our Food Deserts Public Policy Coalition which has a mission of improving access to healthy food items in the underserved areas of Duval County in a strategic and tactical manner. Working with coalition members representing city leaders, state representatives, US representatives, attorneys, the business community, area hospitals, area colleges and key nonprofits working within neighborhoods of need, the coalition strongly reflects area expertise and knowledge while providing valuable input integral to achieving success for both short- and long-term goals for making a sustainable impact in the underserved areas of NE Florida. To ensure long-term success, the Coalition is focused on public policy development and implementation. To further share the short- and long-term goals of the Coalition, a 2018 winter meeting with city leaders, the public at-large and the news media, is in the planning process.

Also in the July 2017 edition of Cardiology, data shows that ‘food policies may reduce deaths from heart disease.’ Astounding numbers – 150,500 in death reduction from cardiovascular disease by 2030 could be realized with a nationwide subsidy of 10% for fruits and vegetables, according to a study examining how food policies may lower cardiovascular death rates in the US. With public policy provision of a supplemental nutrition assistance program to the public with 30% subsidy for fruits and vegetables, an outlook of 35,100 cardiovascular disease deaths could be prevented. The DCMS and its Foundation remains committed to helping improve the total health of our community, and you are encouraged to get involved. Should you have an interest in learning how you can actively participate, please contact Tammy Chaney at tammy@dcmsonline.org.  

Five local OTF studios – North St. Johns, Southside, Hodges Pointe, Fleming Island and Mandarin – participated in the charity burn fundraiser, earning a cumulative total of 5,903 splat points or $2,951.50!  Additional donations were also made by individuals, including a $650 donation from Lululemon, bringing the total amount raised to more than $3,700!

  

Thank you to Orangetheory Fitness Jacksonville and everyone who participated in the charity burn fundraiser in support of 904 Mission One Million! With your help, we can continue to educate, engage and encourage everyone in all areas our community to get active and make healthier lifestyle choices. Together, we will accomplish the mission of one million pounds lost and ultimately, make our city a healthier one!

For more information about Orangetheory Fitness Jacksonville, click here.

904 Mission One Million has been out and around the community sharing the Mission and encouraging everyone to join in the movement to better the health of Northeast Florida and lose one million pounds! 

OrangeTheory Fitness Charity Burn

This week we are teaming up with OrangeTheory Fitness to help raise money for 904 Mission One Million through a Charity Burn! OrangeTheory will be donating money for each participant who takes a "Charity Burn" class at studios across our area. The Charity Burn classes are as follows:

Tuesday, 3/21 at North St. Johns: 5:45-6:45pm, 7:00-8:00pm, 8:15-9:15pm
Wednesday 3/22 at Southside: 4:30-5:30pm, 5:45-6:45pm, 7:00-830PM
Thursday 3/23 at Hodges Pointe: 5:00-6:00am, 6:00-7:00am, 5:15-6:15pm, 6:15-7:15pm, 7:15-8:45pm 
Friday 3/24 at Fleming Island: 4:15-5:45pm
Saturday 3/25 at Mandarin: 7:30-8:30am, 8:45-9:45am, 10:00-11:00am

Sign up for a class today and help Jacksonville in its mission to lose one million pounds!

UNF Safe Spring Break Fair

The University of North Florida’s Department of Health Promotion hosted their annual Safe Spring Break Fair to promote awareness on important health topics.  904 Mission One Million participated in the event, talking with students and registering new participants for the 904 M1M challenge.

Crome Fitness

DCMS CEO, Bryan Campbell, participated in a group training session at Crome Fitness. After the intense workout, Bryan shared the 904 M1M initiative with the group of participants.

Owen & Associates Claim Control Clinic

DCMS CEO, Bryan Campbell, spoke with a group of local area business leaders at the Owen & Associates Claim Control Clinic.  Bryan kicked off the event talking about the 904 Mission One Million initiative and how our entire community can get involved in helping improve the health of our city.

Gate River Run Runner’s Expo

904 Mission One Million took part in the 40^th Annual Gate River Run Runner’s Expo at the Jacksonville Fairgrounds!  We teamed up with PRS Running Club in the expo hall to share the Mission and sign up new participants wanting to help the 904 lose one million pounds.

Jacksonville University Students Share Their Missions

A group of young men and women from Jacksonville University’s College of Healthcare Sciences have joined the 904 M1M movement!  Students for Dr. Heather Hausenblas’ Health Behaviors class pledged to make healthier lifestyle choices and shared those missions with us and on social media.  Some of those healthy missions included drinking more water, eating more vegetables and taking more steps during the day.

Shamrock’n 5K

904 Mission One Million recently joined Ultimate Racing, Inc. at their Shamrock’n 5K race!  The St. Patty’s Day event included green beer, food, music, games and of course, a 5K run!

There are even more exciting events coming soon!  Check out the events calendar to see where 904 Mission One Million will be next! http://904missiononemillion.com/events/

       

904 Mission One Million is teaming up with OrangeTheory Fitness to help work towards a healthier Jacksonville! Next week, OrangeTheory Fitness will be hosting a series of "charity burns" to help raise money for the 904 Mission One Million organization.

Sign up for an OTF class and help Jacksonville in its mission to lose one million pounds!

Classes & OrangeTheory Studio Locations:

Tuesday, 3/21 at North St. Johns: 5:45-6:45pm, 7:00-8:00pm, 8:15-9:15pm
Wednesday 3/22 at Southside: 4:30-5:30pm, 5:45-6:45pm, 7:00-830PM
Thursday 3/23 at Hodges Pointe: 5:00-6:00am, 6:00-7:00am, 5:15-6:15pm, 6:15-7:15pm, 7:15-8:45pm 
Friday 3/24 at Fleming Island: 4:15-5:45pm
Saturday 3/25 at Mandarin: 7:30-8:30am, 8:45-9:45am, 10:00-11:00am